Gyve



F. C. NAGLE July 2, 1935.

GYVE

Filed June 6, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'llz ll awn F. C. NAGLE July 2, 1935;

GYVE

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1934 Inventor JrzTe/f 671% 4 Home y w X F 3 W Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -GYVE Fredrick C. Nagle, Shreveport, La. Application June 6, 1934, Serial N6. 729,305

3 Claims.

' 'An important object of the present invention is to provide a gyve of the type including a pair or sections secured in position by limb encircling members, together with a novel construction of lock joint hingedly connecting the sections together for permitting the limb to bebent freely at the knee within a limited rangeyas'when walking, but which will automatically lock the sections against relative swinging movement should the limb be bent at the knee beyond a predetermined angle, as when running or sitting down, thus preventing straightening of the leg.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a gyve of the aforementioned character which includes novel means for adjustably securing the flexible'limb encircling membersto the hingedly connected sections.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a gyve of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact,'light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing andgstill further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a gyve constructed in accordance with the present invention', showing the device applied.

Figure 2 is a side elevational. view, showing the device applied andin locked position.

Figure-3 is a view in front elevation of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation on a somewhat enlarged scale of the intermediate portion of the device.

Figure '5 is a detail view in vertical section through one of the chain locks, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure Sis a detail view in elevation of the rotary cylinder constituting a part of each of the chain locks, looking at the inner end thereof.

Figure 7 is a detail view in vertical transverse section through the element shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the rod on the free end of each of the limb encircling chains, showing the same broken away in section.

Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation of the key which is used to release the chain locks.

Figure 10 is a detail view in vertical section through the joint lock, taken substantially on the line Iiiof Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line II-II of Figure 4.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the key which is used to unlock the gyve sections.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises upper and lower metallic sections I and 2, respectively, which are adapted to be secured to the upper and lower portions of the leg, as illustrated to advantage in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. To prevent chafing the leg, the sections I and 2 are each provided with a cover 3 of suitable material, preferably rubber. The sections I and 2 are hingedly connected with each other by a joint lock which is designated generally by the reference numeral 4. 7

As best seen in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, the joint lock 4 includes an inner cap 5 which is rigidly secured to the upper section I, as at 6, and a relatively rotatable outer cap I telescopically engaged over the inner cap 5'and rigidly secured to the lower section 2. The inner cap 5 has formed therein a centrally located opening in which the reduced inner portion .of a metallic disk 8 is journaled. The lower end portion of the upper section I upon which the inner cap 5 is secured is provided with an outwardly pressed or offset portion 9 Which'accommodates the comparatively large outer portion ofthe: disk 8. Rivets I0 secure the disk 8 to the outer cap I and the upper portion of the lower section 2 and in this manner the caps 5 and I are'rotatably 50-;

cured together; Projecting centrally from the inner side of the disk 8 is a guide pin- I I which is aligned with a keyhole I2 in the outer cap I an the lower section 2. I

Struck inwardly from the flange or skirt portion'of the inner cap 5 are diametrically opposite series of ratchet teeth I3 (see FigurelO). Projecting inwardly from the disk 8 are angular guides I4 upon which substantially segmental,

toothed dogs I5 are slidably mounted, said dogs being slidably interlocked with each other and having recesses I6 formed therein which accommodate the guides I 4 The dogs I5 are yieldingly urged away from each other by coil springs H. The teeth I8 of the dogs I5 are normally engaged with the untoothed portions of the flange or skirt of the inner cap 5. The dogs I5 are slidably connected to the outer cap 1 for rotation therewith by laterally projecting pins 19 which are slidably engaged in grooves or channels 20 which are provided therefor in the cap 1. 7

Te dogs I5 alsohave formed therein notches or recesses 2I for the reception of the wards 22 of a key 23. The shank or stem of the key 23 is provided with asocket which receives the guide pin II. The dog guides I4 are spaced from each otherand shaped to receive therebetween the key 23 and the wards 22 of said key are bifurcated for straddling said guides l4 for permitting the key to be rotated in a-manner to retract the dogs I5 against the tension of the coil springs I1. v

Rigidly secured on the outer sides of the sections I and 2 are locks which are designated gen- 'erally by the reference numeral 25. As the locks 25 are identical in construction, a description of one will suflice for all. Each lock 25includes a metallic casing 26 having a passage 21 therein,

' the purpose of which will be presently set forth. Slidably mounted in the casing 26 is a bolt 26 V which is yieldingly urged into the passage21 by a coilspring 29. The bolt is adapted to be retracted against the tension of the coil spring .29 through the medium oi a cylinder 3|) which'is rotatably mounted in the casing 26 and which has formed on its inner end an off-center pin 3| which is engaged in a channel 32 which is provided therefor in said bolt 28. The cylinder has formed therein a circumferential groove 33 which intersects a comparativelydeep socket 34. The socket 34 and the groove 33 are for the reception of a spring pressed pin 35 which is slidably mounted in the casing 26. The cylinder 30 also has formed therein comparatively deep longitudinal channels 36, one of which intersects the groove 33 and the socket 34, as

clearly seen in Figure 7 of the drawings. -'Ihe' channels 36 are for the reception of the wards 31 of a key 38 which is insertable through a keyhole 39 in a cover plate 40 which is mounted on the casing 26' over the cylinder 30. The free end of one of the wards 31 is beveled, as at H, to facilitate passage beneath the pin 35.

.Secured at one end, as at 42, to each of the lock casings 26 is a leg encircling chain 43 which is provided with a tubular rubber protecting cover 44. Loosely mounted on the free end of each chain '43 is a rod 'or needle 45 which is adapted to pass through the passage 21 to facilitate drawing the chain therethrough.

In use,the sections I and 2 are positioned against the'sides of the leg with the joint lock 4 adjacent the knee and the device is secured by the chains 43. The chains 43 are drawn through the passages'21 of the locks 25 until the desired 'tensionhas been attained, and said chains are then anchored in adjusted position by the bolts 28 which are shaped to engage in the linksof should the'lower portion of the leg be swung beyond predetermined angle, as when running or sitting down, the dogs I5 are rotated by the lower section 2 sufiiciently to engage the teeth It with the ratchet teeth I3 and straightening of the leg will be positively prevented. To release the joint lock 4 for permitting straightening of the leg, the key 23 is inserted and rotated after the wards 22 engage in the notches or recesses 2| for retracting the dogs I5 against the tension of the coil springs I1 until the teeth I6 clear the ratchet teeth I3. To releaselthe chains 43, as when it is desired to remove the device, the key 38 is operatively engaged with the cylinder 30, the beveled ward 31 being forced past the springpressed pin 35. In this manner the spring 35 is shifted outwardly sufllciently to clear the socket 34 and permit rotation of the cylinder 30, said pin 35 engaging in the groove 33 when said cylinder is rotated. It will thus be seen that.

when the pin 351s engaged in the socket 34 it secures the cylinder 30 against rotary and longitudinal movement and'when said pin is engaged v It is believed that the many advantages of a gyve constructed in accordance with the present invention "will be readily understood, and a1- thougha preferred embodiment oi. the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

. What is claimed is:

l. A gyve comprising a pair of sections attachable to parts of a limb, and a joint lock hingedly connecting-said sections together, said joint lock including telescopically engaged, relatively rotatable caps fixed to thesections, a disk journaled in one of the caps, means connecting 7 the disk tothe other of said caps for rotation therewith, angular guides on the disk, diametrically opposite series of ratchet teeth struck inwardly from said one cap, toothed dogs slidably mounted in said one'cap and operatively engageable with the ratchet teeth for locking the sections together when said sections are swung beyond a predetermined angle *relative to each other, the dogs having recesses therein slidably receiving the guides, resilient means yieldingly urging the dogs toward operative position, ,and'

gether, spring actuated dogs slidably mounted in the inner cap and "operatively engageablewith the ratchet teeth for locking the caps together againstrelative rotary movement in one direction when the. sections are swung beyond a predetermined angle relative to each other, and means slidably connecting the dogs to the outer cap for rotation therewith.

3. A gyve comprising a pair of hingedly connected sections, flexible members for mounting :the sections on a limb, and meanson the sections for securing the members around the limb, said means including a lock comprising a casing having a passage therein for the members, a spring actuated bolt engageable with the member for anchoring said member in the passage, a rotatable cylinder operatively connected with the bolt for retracting said bolt, said cylinder having a. socket therein and further having a comparatively shallow circumferential groove therein intersecting the socket, said cylnder still further having comparatively deep longitudinal channels therein for the reception of a key, one of said channels intersecting the socket and the groove, and a spring-pressed pin engageable in the socket for securing the cylinder against movement and engageable in the groove for rotatably securing the cylinder in the lock, said pin being operable by the key. 

